Korean Air Plans Huge Lounge Improvements: Long Overdue!

Korean Air has this week revealed a major rebranding, which follows the merger between Korean Air and Asiana being finalized. What’s exciting is that changes at the airline go way beyond just branding, as the airline will also invest in the passenger experience.

I’ve already covered how Korean Air plans to launch a new first class in 2028, but that’s not all. More immediately, the airline will be massively improving its lounges, and we’ll already start to see these open in the coming months. This can’t come soon enough!

Korean Air will be refreshing its lounge network

Executive Traveller has the details of how Korean Air will be investing in its lounges, based on discussions with David Pacey, Korean Air’s EVP of Inflight Service and Lounges. These aren’t just minor cosmetic improvements, but rather, it seems like Korean Air is serious about changing virtually everything about the lounge experience.

I’d argue that as it stands, Korean Air has among the worst (if not the worst) lounges of any major airline that’s well regarded. In particular, the lounges are sterile and have lackluster food and drinks. That’s true whether you’re at the carrier’s Incheon Terminal 2 hub, or at one of the outstation lounges. Just check out my reviews of the Prestige Lounge Incheon and First Lounge Incheon.

Fortunately we have a lot to look forward to. For one, Korean Air will be introducing a completely new lounge aesthetic. Lounges will go from looking like hospital waiting rooms (which is how I’d describe the current aesthetic), to looking more like the lobbies of five-star hotels. Executive Traveller has some renderings of what the lounges will look like, so take a look over there. I’m very impressed.

Korean Air will also upgrade its food and beverage offerings. Currently the airline’s food and drinks are lackluster, with instant noodles being among the more exciting options available. Going forward, lounges will have live cooking stations, with everything from popular Korean dishes, to international food. Furthermore, lounges will have a bakery and patisserie, with fresh croissants, pizza, and desserts.

So, when can we expect these new lounges? We won’t even have to wait that long:

• The expectation is that the first new-style lounges will open in August 2025, in the form of a Prestige (Business) Lounge and Miler Club Lounge at Incheon Terminal 2
• Around August 2025, the current Incheon Terminal 2 lounges at the airport will close, with the plan being for them to reopen around April 2026
• Lounge capacity at Incheon Terminal 2 will also expand, with the footprint going from 5,000 square meters to 15,000 square meters, and the capacity going from 900 seats to 1,600 seats (in fairness, Asiana will also gradually be moving operations to the terminal)
• In January 2026, a refreshed lounge will open in Los Angeles, and in June 2026, a new lounge will open at the newly opened New York JFK Terminal 1

I’m delighted to see Korean Air investing in its product

I’ve taken a couple of trips on Korean Air lately, and have published several reviews of both flights and lounges. I’ve called the airline second rate among its Asian peers, and have pointed out how little effort the airline seemingly puts into its premium passenger experience.

Some people think I was being harsh, and they’re of course entitled to feel that way, but I have nothing against the airline. The contrast between Korean Air and some of its rivals is just huge. And it’s not just in one area, but it’s across so many aspects of the experience.

With that in mind, I’m so happy to see that Korean Air seems serious about improving its passenger experience. There’s nothing that would delight me more than to fly with Korean Air in a year or two, and to give the airline a positive review based on improvements that have been made. There are few things I like more than a comeback story.

Heck, I think I’m vindicated, because Korean Air’s own executive is acknowledging that the airline is “behind,” and it’s something they “need to work on.”

To be honest, prior to this week, I hadn’t heard of David Pacey, but I love what I’m hearing and reading. He’s remarkably candid in assessing the current state of Korean Air’s product, and that makes me confident that he’ll lead the carrier’s passenger experience in the right direction. Of course that assumes he doesn’t get too much pushback from the CEO, and that the company is actually willing to make the necessary investments.

It’s interesting to me that he has a background in hospitality rather than in aviation. He has spent decades working in the hotel industry in Asia, and I think that’s a really valuable and fresh perspective to have, if you’re trying to make radical changes.

Bottom line

Some promising changes are coming to Korean Air. Over the next year or so, Korean Air plans to not only significantly expand its lounge footprint, but also introduce an all-new lounge concept, with a new design, and much better food and drinks. This all sounds great, so let’s hope this works out as promised.

I’ve been critical of Korean Air because the airline just hasn’t been trying (at least by international standards), so it’s good to see that being addressed.

What do you make of Korean Air’s planned lounge changes?